UP govt examines Durga Shakti's reply to charges

The IAS officer was suspended in July 27 for ordering the demolition of a mosque being built illegally on govt land

The Uttar Pradesh government is reviewing the case of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, whose suspension last month had triggered nationwide outrage and protests against the victimisation of officers, according to NDTV.com.

 

Nagpal, who had cracked down on sand mining mafia active in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, was suspended in July ostensibly for ordering demolition of a wall of a local under-construction mosque allegedly without following the due process.

 

The website quoting sources reported that the government was "examining her response" to their chargesheet and analysing the sequence of events that led to the mosque demolition.

 

The Akhilesh government had on August 4 sent a report on Nagpal's suspension to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and also served a charge sheet to her seeking response over her action deemed as unwarranted and in violation of rules by the ruling Samajwadi Party government.

 

Nagpal, a 2010 batch IAS officer, had replied to the charge sheet on August 16, in which she is understood to have stated that she has not violated any rule and abided by directions of Supreme Court.

 

Nagpal's suspension had led to widespread outrage across the country with even Congress chief Sonia Gandhi writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him to ensure she is not treated unfairly.